What happens when you get the biggest film composers and music supervisors in the same room? Expect a live orchestra concert paired with a funky ’80s-themed flash mob. On Nov. 7, the Lighthouse ArtSpace Los Angeles transformed to host Netflix Playlist, a music showcase highlighting scores from Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, A Jazzman’s Blues, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Stranger Things, White Noise and other films and series.
With swanky beverages and access to a fully stocked candy bar, guests and music professionals were treated to an evening of live music, exclusive first looks and special appearances from Netflix musicians like Ruth B. Join in on the celebration with our six highlights from the event — and don’t forget to add some new tracks to your own Spotify playlists.
The evening kicked off with a panel from the musical tastemakers behind some of the biggest upcoming titles. Alexandra Patsavas (Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte), Steven Gizicki (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio), George Drakoulias (White Noise) and Jen Malone (Wednesday) joined moderator Anthony D’Alessandro to discuss their craft as music supervisors.
Malone, who also served as music supervisor for Yellowjackets and Euphoria, talked about working with Tim Burton on Wednesday. “Working with [him] on it, we just want to stay true to his aesthetic and give our own spin on it. There’s some really fun in-camera songs that were created,” she said. Malone also shared that she worked as a rock band publicist prior to becoming a music supervisor, which means we can expect an edge to the Wednesday soundtrack.
The revolting children of Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical are marching in this Christmas, and composer Tim Minchin had a little surprise for the crowd. Based on the Olivier and Tony Award-winning musical, the upcoming retelling of Matilda features a brand-new song written by Minchin himself. In the original musical, the show ends with “When I Grow Up (Reprise),” but the composer wanted a bigger finale for the movie musical. “Movies don’t have curtain calls,” Minchin said. After playing his new number, “Still Holding My Hand,” sung by Matilda (Alisha Weir) and Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch), you could hear several sniffles coming from the audience.
Ruth B. made a special appearance to premiere her music video for “Paper Airplanes” from Tyler Perry’s A Jazzman’s Blues. The “Lost Boy” and “Dandelions” singer-songwriter flew to Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta two weeks ago to film the video on the film’s set, and Playlist attendees were in for a romantic affair. It’s safe to say that wedding dance floors will never be the same ever again.
After intermission, the Lighthouse ArtSpace was transformed into an immersive concert. A live orchestra performed selected scores from White Noise, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, as a 360-degree projector cast images from each movie onto the walls. Some of the films’ composers were in attendance to receive their flowers, including Danny Elfman, Isabella Summers, Nathan Johnson and Alexandre Desplat.
Everyone’s talking about Johnson & Johnson — and not the baby shampoo. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery director Rian Johnson shared the stage with his cousin and composer Nathan Johnson. No knives were out, just lots of family love. “We’ve been making movies together since I was 10 years old,” the director said. As the cousins told the crowd, they spent family vacations every summer filming, editing and composing their own movies together. “Our first mixing stage was two VHS VCRs and a Discman with the Hook soundtrack and an elaborate timing of hitting play and record to do our edits,” Rian continued. “And since then, some years later, we’ve done a lot of movies together.” After their speeches, Rian rested his head on his cousin’s shoulder, and the audience fell into collective awe.
A classical orchestra concert transitioning into an ’80s-themed dance party? Talk about range. Every finale number has to go big or go home, and Netflix Playlist certainly delivered. The walls transformed into a retro grocery store as a flash mob of neon-wearing dancers moved along to LCD Soundsystem’s “new body rhumba,” written for White Noise. If you need a new main character anthem, look no further.
